20VC: Tim Ferriss: Why I Walked Away From Angel Investing After Uber | How I Accidentally Lost $150 Million | Money Fixed My Problems—Then Made Me Miserable

**Harry Stebbings** (0:00)
This is 20VC with me, Harry Stebbings, and this episode was about 10 years in the making. No one actually knows this, but I started podcasting because I fell in love with Tim Ferriss' podcast 10 years ago. I remember listening to it for the first time, and I actually used his episode with Ed Cook to study for exams at school before I dropped out. He has been a idol inspiration, mentor to me for many years. I'm so thrilled that we were able to do this show today. It's one of the most thoughtful and reflective that we've done. I'd love your feedback. Let me know what you think, harry at 20vc.com. But before we dive into the show today, Secure Frame empowers businesses to build trust with customers by simplifying information security and compliance through AI and automation. Thousands of fast growing businesses including NASDAQ, AngelList, Doodle and Coda trust Secure Frame to expedite their compliance journey for global security and privacy standards such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001, CMMC, MIS standards and more. Battered by top tier investors and corporations like Google and Kleiner Perkins, the company is among Forbes' list of the top 100 startup employers for 2024 G2's best software awards for higher satisfaction products and a recipient of the 2024 Cyber Security Excellence Awards, something I definitely never got in school myself. Learn more today at secureframe.com. Once Secure Frame locked it all down, HMC, they hand you the keys to scale it up. Harvard Management Company is constantly seeking out the next generation of great investors and entrepreneurs. HMC has managed Harvard University's endowment for nearly 50 years and was one of the first institutional investors in Venture Capital. Their experience and long-term investment horizon makes them ideal partners to get world-changing ideas on a path to viability and success. They work as a true partner, providing insightful perspectives to help managers succeed. I personally have had the pleasure of working with the HMC team and can say that they are truly exceptional partners and savvy investors. So, whether you're launching your first fund or your fifth, HMC welcomes the opportunity to partner with both developing and established managers. Have an idea you want to share with the team? Just send it over to venture at hmc.harvard.edu.
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**Tim Ferriss** (3:31)
I'm thrilled to be here and congrats on the success. You've had some amazing interviews. So well done.

**Harry Stebbings** (3:36)
That is very, very good. It's amazing how far a British accent goes.
Really, you have the intellect and I have the accent and I think it really elevates mine. Just they think you're so smart in the US.

**Tim Ferriss** (3:48)
It does equalize things out. I remember back in the day and he's actually a pretty clever guy, but people would say Lennox Lewis is a phenomenal boxer. He is 10 times smarter than any other boxer. And I would say, I think it's because you're American and he has a British accent. There is a certain inflation that seems to happen. But congratulations. Well done. Either way, by hook or crook, you have created a very, very prominent, very compelling show. So nicely done.

**Harry Stebbings** (4:18)
That's very, very kind of you. You said that I could just take this in any way that I wanted. I find it difficult when you have a public persona to actually separate who you are from the showman. You know, you've got to be on show when you're doing podcasts, when you're speaking. And I really struggle with that. How do you think about retaining your true self when you also have to be a showman?